Working from home may be a new thing to you, or you may be an experienced WFH cybersecurity expert. Nevertheless, with the present situation of things, most people stay at home for work. 

These are trying times; we are all in the same situation, and we all need to do everything in our capacity to prevent coronavirus from spreading. Regardless, cybersecurity threats are on the rise. As a matter of fact, there is a spike in phishing and other cybercrime activity directed towards people who are working from home. 

At workplaces, the information security team takes care of the cybersecurity measures. However, when it comes to remote cyber risks, you may have to address it yourself. This applies to IT security experts and other remote workers who use their personal computers for professional purposes. To make remote working more secure for you, we have compiled tips on how to protect yourself against WFH cybercrime.

1. Use Antivirus Software

   You need to secure yourself against WFH cybersecurity threats through effective risk management. Antivirus software is an essential tool to have on your office computer. It’s of utmost importance to have on your personal computer when working for your organization. Prevent malware from compromising your work and your employer’s systems. 
   
   

2. Ensure Your System and Programs Are Up-to-date

   Operating systems and programs are regularly updated in order to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting their weaknesses. Ensure your operating system is running on the latest version. As a remote worker, you should enable automatic updates to ensure your system is safe.
   
   

3. Secure Your Home Network

   Ensure you have your Wi-Fi network encrypted. If your wireless network requires a password, it’s a good way to prevent intruders from accessing it. If you don’t have a password, input a password through the router settings. You can also modify your router’s default password. If your router is breached, then a cyber attacker may get access to your devices and everything you send through the router. The default passwords for routers are a weak link in their protection.
   
   

4. Use a VPN for Privacy Purposes

   If you’re using your employer’s computer, this should have been set up for you. However, if you are using your personal computer, get a VPN to secure your connection and encrypt your data. With a reliable VPN on your computer, confidential information can’t be accessed by anyone that does not have the authorization to do so. Use it always when you’re connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.
   
   

5. Avoid Oversharing Your Computer Screen

   During online meetings or video conferencing, be careful of the way you share your screen. You should not leave any windows open that you don’t want to share. An error may occur and you may share something that you don’t want the public to see. While it can be uncomfortable for you, it can also be a privacy issue. You may be oversharing confidential information that’s not meant to be seen by your co-workers. 
   
   

6. Beware of Covid-19 Related Scams

   In the present day, Internet criminals have exploited the Covid-19 pandemic in different ways. It has been the topic of many national and international phishing and scam campaigns. As a remote worker, if you get emails with any covid-19 related attachments or suspicious links, try not to open them or verify them before you open them.
   
   

7. Do Not Share Personal Information on Social Media

   Try as much as possible to avoid sharing any personal information, messages or emails on social media platforms. It may just be another phishing case. Make sure that the person who asked about information concerning your organization is trusted before sending any essential information via email. It’s also risky to share pictures of your remote working station on social media platforms. You may accidentally share confidential information while you do it. This also applies to using a webcam. With webcams, you may share too much information about your family, home or work without knowing.
   
   

8. Create a Reliable Working Environment

   As no one knows the real solutions to end this pandemic, it’s ideal to create an ideal working environment for yourself. Getting every useful tool that will make your job easier is essential for you. 
   
   

9. Create Secure Connections

• Secure your home Wi-Fi with a strong password in case VPN is not an option or if it fails.
• Access to the settings on your home router should be password protected as well. Ensure you change the default password it came with—no 12345.
• Ensure you have access to your company’s cloud infrastructure and can tunnel in through a VPN with encryption.

10. Use Cybersecurity Best Practices

    Other WFH security precautions may include the following: 

• We are already seeing the rise in Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud. Your company may be sending a lot of emails and memos about new workflows or reassurances to its employees. Watch out for those emails disguising themselves as employers and pay attention to the real email address of the senders. 
• Be cautious of overexposure on social media and try your best to maintain normal behavior. Do you normally check social media on your phone when you’re on a break? If yes, do the same now. Regardless, beware of misinformation and scams, because criminals love to use this channel to lure their victims.
• Be careful of phishing emails. There will be a lot of emails going around concerning covid-19, isolation, coronavirus vaccine and its impacts. Make sure you scan those emails with a clear eye, and do not open attachments unless they are from a trusted source.

We hope these tips protect you against WFH cybercrime and get you started with making your remote work safe. 

If you need a cybersecurity tool that can make your remote work effective and protect you from WFH cybercrime, then choose Vicarius. Vicarius is a vulnerability management software that targets cybersecurity officers as well as IT managers and operators from the U.S. market.